By Caleb Ayansina

The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Akon Eyakenyi, has called on the newly elected executive members of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) to ensure that stakeholders in the sector maintain quality in pursuit of affordable housing for Nigerians. This, the Minister added, would further curtail incidents of collapsed buildings in the nation. She stated this when the Association led by its President, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, visited her in her office in Abuja at the weekend.

The Minister commended the transparent process that brought up the new executive and urged them to continue to maintain an open and all-inclusive administrative policy that would benefit stakeholders in the sector. “If you have an open administration, you will succeed,” the Minister said.

While commending the effort of the out-going administration and in particular President Jonathan’s genuine concern and support to the sector, she noted that government is a continuum, expressing hope that the in-coming administration will continue with the laudable programmes and projects in the sector.

The Minister further advised the executive to ensure that on-going projects are duly completed, assuring that the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) as a government institution would continue to render relevant financial assistance to developers. However, she admonished that such financial assistance should be well utilized for the benefit of providing affordable and quality housing for Nigerians.

Responding, REDAN President, Rev. Chime commended the Minister for the various strides recorded during her tenure, noting that she had commissioned more housing estates than any Minister who had ever served in the Ministry, attributing it to her inspirational and outstanding leadership qualities. He added that the Minister’s vibrant policies and synergy with stakeholders had helped to boost the sector, stressing that she will be leaving behind “a good taste in the heart”.